Stories about Western Europe from June, 2009
Latvia: IMF, ECB and the EU Commission at odds
A Fistful Of Euros describes how the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank may be taking another line on the currency peg of the Lat to the Euro and the country's future inclusion into the Euro zone.
Czech Republic: End of EU-presidency
Czechmatediary recounts the end of the Czech presidency of the European Union, finalising it with a big street party.
Algeria: On France's burqa ban
Algerian-American blogger The Moor Next Door remarks upon France's intended burqa ban, saying, “The trouble the French may want to worry about is not the burqa as it is worn in France today, but that such a ban, as the headscarf ban has done, will make the garment a greater...
Hungary 20 years after rise of the Iron curtain
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the 1989 opening of the Austro-Hungarian border, eventually leading to the rise of the Iron Curtain, dividing Eastern and Western Europe.
Palestine: “Free Gaza” Boats Waiting In Cyprus
The Free Gaza Movement have produced a video showing their attempts to leave Cyprus and sail to Gaza with medical and reconstruction supplies.
Azerbaijan: A modest Scary Azeri in print
Scary Azeri in Suburbs informs its readers that a Baku-based English-language magazine has featured the blog in a two-page article. The magazine might not be Harpers, the blogger says, but it is real and more importantly, glossy…
Russia-Poland: History revisionism at large again
The Beatroot comments on a current dispute between Russia and Poland about a Russian state TV-documentary, claiming that Nazi Germany, Poland, and Japan were preparing to invade the Soviet Union during the early stages of World War II.
Russia-Germany: Common 20th century history book
Paul Goble of WindowonEurasia claims that Russian and German historians are coming to an agreement to write a common history book, documenting the countries tumultuous and violent relations during the 20th century.
United Kingdom: Court decides against a blogger's rights to anonymity
A new legal precedent has been set for UK bloggers. Last week, in the England and Wales High Court, Mr Justice Eady ruled that a police officer who previously wrote about his working life on his NightJack blog, did not have the right to remain anonymous.
Lithuania: Oslo mayor in gay protest
Lituanica reports how Norwegian capital's, Oslo, mayor brought his same sex spouse to an international mayors’ conference in Vilnius – in practical protest against Lithuania's increasingly homophobic policies.
Bermuda: “No Confidence” Motion Thwarted
Part of the backlash against Bermudian Premier Ewart Brown's decision to accept four former Guantanamo detainees into the island has been the opposition party's tabling of a "No Confidence" vote against him in Parliament - a motion that bloggers are reporting has been defeated.
Greece: Bloggers interview Iranian protesters
With the clampdown on journalism and communications in Iran, most Greek mainstream media have resorted to conveying reports from social media, second or third-hand, through western news organizations. Some Greek bloggers have helped bridge gaps in reporting by interviewing Iranian protesters contacted on Twitter themselves, or by posting news from acquaintances in Iran and abroad.
Confederation Cup: Egypt beats World Champions Italy in Football Victory
Egypt moved closer to reaching the semi-finals of the Confederation Cup after a famous 1-0 win over Italy, the world champions. After the match, many Egyptians took to the streets loudly beeping their car horns at midnight. Streets became crowded after traffic was light during the match. Young men were seen hanging from the windows of moving cars, cheering and waving Egyptian flags. Tarek Amr reviews messages on Twitter during and after the match.
Iran: Comparisons and Scenarios
Balkans via Bohemia looks at how the events in Iran “would play out vis a vis other successful and unsuccessful revolutions in the past two decades,” including those in Serbia, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine and China.
China, UK: Chinadialogue.net founder awarded OBE
Isabel Hilton, the founder of Chinadialogue.net, a bilingual English-Chinese website about the environment, was admitted to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her work promoting environmental awareness in China.
UK: Romanians Attacked in Belfast
LimbicNutrition Weblog writes about violence against Romanian immigrants in Belfast.
Bermuda: Guantanamo Protest
As Bermudians continue to react - unfavourably for the most part - to their government's acceptance of former Guantanamo Bay detainees as full citizens of the tiny island, bloggers comment on yesterday's protest and what the public outcry could mean for the nation's Premier.
Bahrain: Cultural Comparisons
Bahraini blogger Cradle of Humanity, who has spent time studying both in the UK and the US, has come to a conclusion that surprises her: “I think I came to Cleveland expecting to find Cardiff, and that’s why I was shocked…What’s amazing is that Cleveland has more in common with...
Bermuda, USA, UK: Fallout over Guantanamo
Bermudian bloggers still have not stopped talking about their government's agreement to have four detainees of Guantanamo Bay to resettle on the island. Most of their focus seems to be on the fallout that Premier Ewart Brown is facing following the controversial decision.
Ukraine: £2.47 Million for Repin and Petrov-Vodkin
IZO reports that Alina Ayvazova, Kyiv mayor's wife, has paid £2.47 million at an auction in London to acquire two paintings by Russian artists Ilya Repin and Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin.
Netherlands: 80th birthday of Anne Frank
The website of the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam commemorates the 80th birthday of Anne Frank by listing activities in the Netherlands and around the world which are organised to mark the occasion.
